Novak Djokovic battled past David Goffin 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in the semifinal of the Miami Open to qualify for his 11th consecutive Masters 1000 final and his seventh overall final in Miami. The Serbian super star will be bidding to clinch his third consecutive title and a record 28th Masters 1000 crown at Key Biscayne against the winner of the winner of the second semifinal between Kei Nishikori and Nick Kyrgios. Djokovic scored his 15th consecutive win in Miami
Djokovic will be looking to tie André Agassi’s record of six titles in this tournament. He won this tournament in 2007, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015.
Goffin put pressure on Djokovic from the beginning of the match and earned three break points in the opening game as Djokovic made a double fault and a forehand unforced error. The Serb saved them to hold his serve in a hard-fought first game.
The first set went on serve until Djokovic led 3-2. In the sixth game Goffin saved two break points at deuce, including a topspin lob on a 25-shot rally on the first opportunity, to hold his serve for 3-3 in a 11-minute sixth game.
Goffin broke serve in the seventh game to 15 to take a 4-3 lead with a crosscourt forehand return but Djokovic broke straight back to 15 to draw level to 4-4. Djokovic held his serve to 30 to take a 5-4 lead.
Djokovic rallied from 0-30 down to hold his serve for 6-5. Goffin hit an ace to force the first set to the tie-break.
In the tie-break Djokovic took a 4-2 lead. Goffin fired his sixth ace to draw level to 4-4 and got a chance for a mini-break on the next point but he made a smash error at the net. Djokovic hit a drop volley to take a 5-4 edge. At 4-6 Goffin saved the first set point with a drop volley. Djokovic hit a twisting lob to earn his second set point before closing out the first set in 74 minutes as Goffin sent his backhand volley into the net.
Goffin held his service game at the start of the second set. The Belgian player earned the first break point in the fourth game of the second set as Djokovic wasted a 40-15 but the World Number 1 saved it to hold his serve at deuce for 2-2
Djokovic landed awkwardly and clutched at his right ankle in the sixth game but he managed to hold his serve for 3-3. Djokovic broke serve in the seventh game to 15 to take a 4-3 lead.
Djokovic held his next service games and won four of the final five games to close out the match in two hours and five minutes to qualify for his 40th Masters 1000 final and Wit this win he extended his 2016 win-loss record to 27-1. Goffin has won just two of his 27 matches against top-10 players so far in his career.
Goffin converted on just seven of his 17 points at the net but he played a great match which crowned an excellent month in which he reached two back-to-back Masters 1000 semifinals at Indian Wells and Miami. At Indian Wells Goffin beat top-five player Stan Wawrinka.
Djokovic and Goffin met for the fourth time in their careers. Djokovic leads 4-0 over the Belgian player, who proved to be a tough opponent to Djokovic. Last year in Cincinnati Djokovic had to dig deep when he trailed 0-3 in the third set before winning a hard-fought match.
Goffin is projected to reach a career high World Number 13 in the ATP Ranking.
